More Hotels Go Green and Take the Environmental Route
Some hotels take fairly modest steps to reduce stress on the environment such as recycling bottles and plastics and using energy-saving light bulbs.
Some have taken an especially active approach to environmental responsibility.
Perhaps the best known are the Atlantic Shores Resort, Pearl’s Rainbow in Key West, Austin’s funky and retro-hip San Jose Hotel, and Park Lane Guest House. Atlantic Shores also allows pets with advanced notice. Pearl’s Rainbow was originally a cigar factory built in the 1800s. At the San Jose Hotel animals can swim in the pool. At the Park Lane Guest House, an organic breakfast can be served poolside or in your room.
Among larger properties also consider Los Abrigados Resort in Sedona, the Best Western Capitol Skyline in Washington, Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires in Massachusetts, and the Hyatt Regency in Boston. At the Canyon Ranch tobacco products are not available for purchase. The Hyatt has a desk in the rooms with an ergonomic chair.
“Because hotels use a lot of water and energy, anything that’s going to allow them to save in those areas is good for the environment, but it’s going to be good for their business, too,” said Ken Brown of the Environmental Technology Challenge.
Some hotel chains have developed extremely ambitious plans to reduce the stress their properties cause on the environment.
Kimpton uses green cleaning agents and energy-efficient lighting throughout hotels, soy-based inks and recycled paper for print and ad materials, low-flow plumbing systems in bathrooms and organic coffee in minibars. According to Kimpton’s website, kimptonhotels.com, their mission is to lead the hospitality industry in supporting a sustainable world by continuing to deliver a premium guest experience through non-intrusive, high quality, eco-friendly products and services. All complimentary lobby coffee is organic. The hotel chain recycles coat hangers, uses no Styrofoam cups, issues paperless check ins/outs, and has organic flowers in the buildings.
If you’re especially ardent about helping the environment, book one of Kimpton’s eco-rooms or eco-suites, which hare available at several properties.
Some of the eco-suites have been co-designed by celebrities noted for their pro-environmental stances, such as author and TV host Danny Seo, actor Woody Harrelson, and members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Hotel owners and innkeepers face one major obstacle in attempting to institute more environmentally friendly policies: consumer preferences.
But travelers paying big bucks enjoy feeling pampered, and they sometimes balk at some eco-minded initiatives.
Other tips seem obvious when we’re at home – where we tend to think carefully about energy-saving measures me rarely follow on the road.
Helping the environment doesn’t require an all-out, no-exceptions commitment.
In 2002 only two hotels participated in the American Hotel and Motel Association’s “Good Earthkeeping” Program.
